Helping Local Politicians Win Elections in 2023
U.S. authorities have arrested Yao Ning Mike Sun (64, Chinese name Sun Yaoning) on charges of acting as an "illegal Chinese agent."
On the 20th (local time), the Associated Press cited an indictment filed on the 17th (local time) at the Central District Court of California, reporting that Sun Yaoning is accused of conspiring with Chen Jun (71), who was sentenced to 20 months last month, while acting as an illegal agent of the Chinese government.
Chen Jun, a Chinese national, admitted in a July trial to bribing U.S. federal agents with Chinese funds and attempting to weaken the Falun Gong, an anti-China group.
According to a statement submitted to the court, Sun Yaoning received instructions from Chen Jun in 2023 to prepare reports explaining to Chinese officials how he helped elect local politicians.
Documents exchanged between Sun Yaoning and Chen Jun described an anonymous city council member as a "new political star" and included a request for $80,000 (approximately 120 million KRW) in funding to carry out more pro-China activities within the United States.
Chen Jun asked Sun Yaoning to create a list of mainstream American politicians close to the city council member, mentioning that the list would be very effective in raising the council member's status in China.
U.S. prosecutors explained that Sun Yaoning worked closely with Chen Jun, and their communications included methods to protest U.S. House members who were invited to visit Taiwan.
In response, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated its position of not interfering in other countries' internal affairs. At a regular briefing that day, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Zhen said when asked about Sun Yaoning, "I do not know the specific situation regarding the incident you mentioned. What I want to emphasize here is that China has never interfered in other countries' internal affairs. The international community has clearly seen who arbitrarily interferes in other countries' internal affairs."
Meanwhile, the U.S. city council member whose election Sun Yaoning helped is presumed to be Eileen Wang. Sun Yaoning's name reportedly appeared as the election finance manager for Eileen Wang, a candidate for the Arcadia City Council, in election documents from February 2022. Eileen Wang was elected in that year's city council election.
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